Reach new heights at Europe's leading astronomy organisation

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) invites applications for the ESO Fellowship Programme 2026/2027. The Programme is designed to help early career scientists to develop their independent research programmes and successfully reach the next step of their scientific careers by:

• Developing their scientific profiles benefiting from a rich and structured scientific environment where they can interact with more senior scientists.
• Becoming mature and independent researchers who will develop their own research projects and contribute effectively to collaborative scientific endeavours.
• Getting prepared to take on higher scientific, technical or supervisory/managerial responsibilities in future positions.
• Developing their understanding of instrumental and observational techniques through supporting observatory operations to improve their scientific understanding and prepare for a future career in observational astronomy.

Fellowships are available both at ESO's Headquarters in Garching near Munich, Germany, and at ESO's astronomy centre in Santiago, Chile. ESO Fellows are expected to actively participate in ESO's scientific life by proposing and contributing to the organisation of scientific workshops, co-supervising PhD students, coordinating thematic research groups, joining scientific committees, organising seminars, writing competitive grant and telescope proposals, among other activities.

ESO Fellowship positions in Garching are of three years duration. In addition to developing their independent research programmes, ESO-Garching Fellows are expected to engage in functional work for 25% of their time. During this fraction of time, fellows are trained in crucial areas of high-level technology and/or actively participate and contribute to ESO projects, which they select from activities proposed by different departments. Details on the nature of the projects can be found here https://www.eso.org/sci/activities/fellowships-and-studentships/FeSt-overview/fellowship_programme/Fellows_and_ESO_Projects.html

Qualifications

The programme is open to applicants who will have obtained their PhD in astronomy, physics or a related discipline before 1 November 2027. Early-career scientists from all astrophysical fields are welcome to apply. Observational, theoretical and computational astrophysics are all areas where ESO Fellows can benefit from one of the most vibrant and stimulating scientific settings anywhere in the world.